Trailing 1-0 at the halftime break, the No. 13 Wilmington University men’s soccer team responded with three goals in the second frame, coming back to earn a 3-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Caldwell on Homecoming on Saturday at the WU Athletics Complex.

Even in a dominating performance according to shots, 22-6, Wilmington (7-2, 4-1 CACC) found itself down 1-0 late in the first half following a corner kick. Caldwell (4-3, 2-2 CACC) made one of their three shots in the first half count, rising high to head home one of their three corners of the half.

The Cougars struck first in the 41st minute off that corner and headed into the halftime break with the same score.

The second half was all Wilmington, however, as the Wildcats outshot the Cougars, 13-3 in the second stanza. The scoring started on the team’s second shot of the half, as freshman Jordon Ellison took matters into his own hands for his first collegiate career goal.

Making a long run down the right side, the freshman from Stroudsburg, Pa. cut into the box and fired a shot to the opposite upper 90 of the cage. His goal hit the side netting of the goal after beating Caldwell goalkeeper Michael Hartmann at the 48:01 mark of the second half.

The Wildcats kept the pressure on in the second half but didn’t take the lead until the 61st minute of the contest. Another long run got the play started, this time down the left side by freshman Geoff Velasquez. The left-footed outside back took the ball to the touch line before crossing it over to the far post, a perfect pass to an awaiting Tommy Quaranta.

The senior headed the ball back to the near post, passed an outstretched Hartmann and into the back of the net for what would be the game-winner. It was Quaranta’s seventh goal of the season, moving him into second place all-time for career goals in men’s soccer program history with 20 marks in three seasons.

After Caldwell put the pressure back on the Wilmington defense with a pair of corners and another header shot, the Wildcats’ offense took the pressure off, adding an insurance goal with only two minutes remaining.

Ellison wasn’t done after scoring the game-tying goal, this time clearing the ball out of the defensive end and into open space on the other side of the 50-yard line. Caldwell’s defense was pushed up trying to knot the score, which allowed Elton Joe to slip by and head in one-on-one with the Caldwell keeper from 45-yards out.

Joe raced in on the breakaway and buried his shot to once again tie Quaranta for the team lead with seven goals on the year.

Hartmann made six saves for the Cougars in the loss while the Wildcats’ Frank Hall made three stops in improving to 6-1 on the season.

Saturday was the first of five consecutive home games for the Wildcats as they return to action on Wednesday when they welcome nonconference foe West Chester to the WU Athletics Complex for a 4 p.m. match.